CQ or charge of quarters is a tasked duty in which a United States armed forces service member is to guard the front entrance to the barracks.
Other duties may include performing radio checks every few hours with other company barracks and battalion headquarters around the base or surrounding installations as well as bed checks to ensure service members are in their rooms with their doors locked by curfew.
For example, some U.S. Armed Forces service members stationed in South Korea have a curfew for being on post, and another one for being in their own individual rooms with their doors locked.
During the work week, the duty starts at between 1600 and 1630 hours (4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.), also known as Close of Business (COB).
Service members are typically excused from duties the following day after being relieved by a senior NCO, in most cases the unit's first sergeant.